Game indicator



Feb. 10, 1931. J. c. F. HORSTMANN 66 GAME INDICATOR Filed Oct 15, 1950 I 2 Sheets-Sheet l Fb. 10, 1931- J. c. F. HORSTMANN GAME-INDICATOR Filed Oct. 15, 1930 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Him I l 2 1 I; 1 1 IT 10? 4 14:16 A

IIIIIIH II I 1354mm [I I J0 J1 J2 Z1 1 I C ZJfonrfmanzz (Zttomeg Patented Feb. 10, 1 931 umrao STATES JOHN c. r. nonsrm'mr, or BROOKLYN, NEW YORK Gama mmca'ron Application filed October 18, 1930. .serial No. 488,489.

the ta le, sometimes called sub-way tables,

and as shown for example in United States Letters Patent No. 1,703,448, granted to me on February 26, 1929, no convenient or acceptable way has yet been devised for re-- cording the scores of the several players using such tables. It is the purpose of the present invention to provide a complete, simple, in-

expensive and highly efficient scoring or tabulating device for use particularly, though not exclusively, in connection with tables of the character mentioned, whereby the several players may properly and accurately record their scores as the game progresses, without resorting to removing the balls from the racking compartment in ascertainment of the numbers thereon.

With these objects in view, together with others as will appear as the description proceeds, the invention consists in the novel construction, combination and arrangement of parts, all as will be described more fully hereinafter, illustrated in the drawings and particularly pointed out in the claims.

In the drawings: 7 i

Fig. 1 is 2. pers ective view of a conventional form of pocliet pool table of the subway type equipped with indicators embody- 5 in the invention,

ig. 2 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view through one edge of the table and indicating the manner in which the scoringdevice may be attached to or associated with the table,

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary front elevation of the scoring or indicating device,

Fig. 4 is a sectional view taken substantially upon line 4-4 of Fig. 3,

Fig. 5 is a detailed perspective view of one of the indicator members removed from its supporting element,

Fig. 6 is a fragmenta pers ective view of the strip support for t e 1n icator-members,

Fig. 7 shows a portion of the front face of a conventional form of pool hall rack, havmg applied thereto indicator members embodying the invention, and

1 Fig. 8 is an enlarged verticalsectional view taken through the frame disclosed in Fig. 7.

The ndicating or scoring device in accordance w1th the invention is of simple nature and. 1S constructed primarily. as an attachment for pool tables or an adjunct to a pool room. The scoring device may be ap lied either to the table'itself or to the rack eretofore used to contain the ballsv of the several players, or it may be applied to a wall or any other support as desired. The inventive 5 idea resides in the arrangement of a series of indicating members mounted independently of each other and of which there will be a number corresponding to the number of balls used in the game. Each one of these indicat- 7 mg members has inscribed thereon the number of a ball so that for each ball there will be an indicating member corresponding to thenumber thereon. There will be one of these indicating devices for each player. engaged in the game, and as the several players score by driving the various balls into the pockets, they Will operate their indicator corresponding to the number upon the balls so scored. As the game progresses and the various players score untilall of the balls are removed from the table, it will be an easy matter for each player to sum up the total number of points he has scored by the simple process of addition of the various numbers appearing upon his articular indicator.

In carrying out t is inventive idea, and assuming that there are fifteen balls employed in the game, numbered consecutively from one to fifteen, each indicator will include therefor tabs .or members totaling fifteen and which will be numbered in regular order from one tofifteen. The indicator in thepresent instance comprises movable members indicated generally at 10, and these members may be formed of metal or any other desired material. Each member comprises a pair of angularly disposed indicia bearinv faces 11 and 12, the former of which is preferably substantially larger than the loo I latter. The invention in its preferred embodiment contemplates the use of members formed of single piece of metal of generally rectangular shape, the end edges of which may be rounded as shown, and a reduced intermediate portion 13 disposed closer to one end than theother. This reduced portion when bent in the manner shown in the drawings forms a hinge barrel l4, and preferably the elements 1112 are bent so as to be disposed at right angles to each other.

Associated with the elements thus de scribed, and for the purpose of properly supporting the same is a base member 15, formed of an elongated strip of metal having spaced barrel portions 16 at one edge toreceive between them thebarrel members 14 of the various indicator members. A pin or r0d'17v extends through the aligned barrels 161 l, to hold the same properly together and to permit of the members swinging independentlyof each other between the said strip barrels. The strip 15 may be secured to a support or base in any preferred manner, screws or small bolts being usually employed for this purpose.

In adapting theindicator thus described to a pool table, the strip member is secured to a base 18 which may be formed of wood or any other preferred material, and the member 18 has brackets 19 attached to the'ends thereof tov enable the same to be firmly se cured to an underledge of the table. The

' brackets 19 will extend up from the ends of the base 18 a sufficient distance beyond the upper ends of the table members 11 to prevent interference of any portion of the table with said members in operation.

In instances where it may be desired to secure the indicators to any other support,.as for instance the several shelves of the usual wall supported :pool ball rack, the strip 15 may be screwed directly to the top surface of the shelf near the forward edge thereof.

The hinge pintles of the indicator are located a distance sufiiciently far removed from the front edge of the support or base toenable the said edge to act as a support for the forwardly projecting table element .12, so that when said element is removed forwardly to its limit, the portion 11 will be disposed in an upright or fully exposed position. The forward face of each .of the members 11 has inscribed thereon the several numbers sufficiently large to be at once distinguishable, and the underface of each of the tab elements 12 has a number inscribed thereon corresponding to its respective tab element 11.

The portions 11 of the indicator members are substantially larger than the portions 12 and are di'sposed slightly forwardly of their respective hinge barrels. In being so constructed, when a tab element 12 is pulled or flipped forwardly, the element 11.. will. rise 11 rearwardly of the hinge pin, then the said larger tab element will fall to horizontal or obscured position rearwardly upon the base or support.

In instances where the scoring device is associated with a pool table, there will be six of the indicators employed; one for each player who might participate in a game. The indicator may be arranged along the sides and upon the ends of the table and in such position as obviate the possibility of coming in contact with the clothing or persons of the players. As the players proceed, each scores the numbers of balls he has shot from the table by operating the indicator uponhis particular scoring device, and after all of the balls have been played, the sum totals of points scored by the several players may be realized by the simple process of adding the numbers disclosed by the upstanding larger tab members 11 of the several indicators. Before a new gameis played, each'player will adjust his particular indicator properly by rettu'ning the upstanding tabs 11 to their normal obscured positions. This may be done by either flipping the forwardly projecting tabs 12 of such members upwardly with the finger or with thepool cue.

From the foregoing it is obvious that I have provided a game indicator of extremely simple construction, which may be economically manufactured and marketed, which may be applicable to any of the present day pool tables or ball racks, and by the use of which an accurate record of the points scored may be maintained.v

While the foregoing is a description of the invention in its preferred embodiments, it is nevertheless to be understood that variations inv the construction, combination and arrangement of the several parts may be resorted to if desired without departing from the, spirit of the invention as defined by'the claims. I

Having thus described my invention, I claim:

1. In a game indicator, a support, a plurality of indicating elements carried by said support, each of said elements comprising angularly disposed indicia bearing faces, and hinge members at the juncture of said portions for hingedly mounting said members to said support. i

2. In a game indicator, a support, a plurality of indicator members for said support, each member comprisingindicia. bearing faces disposed angularly to each other, and a hinge barrel for each member substantially at the 'uncture of said faces with each other for ingedly mounting the member upon said support.

3. In a game indicator, a support, an indicator element comprisin a pair of indicia bearing portions dis dangularly to each other and means for ingedly connecti said element to said support at substantiell y the juncture of the two rtions. I

4. In a game indicator, a support, a plurality of spaced hinge barrels on said'support, a plurality of indicator members, said members comprising rtions dis osed angularly to each other, a inge barre for each member to interfit with the barrels of said supfport, and a pin passin through the barrels 0 said support and sai member.

5. In a game indicator, a support, an indicator element including a body having a pair of indicia bearing faces disposed angularlv to each other, and a hinge barrel for said member disposed outwardly beyond the plane of one of said faces and to be hingedly con- 5 nected to said sup ort.

In testimony w ereof I aflix my signature. I

JOHN C. F. HORSTMANN. 

